UFCThe Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is a U.S.-based mixed martial arts organization, recognized as the largest MMA promotion in the world. The UFC is headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada and is owned and operated by Zuffa, LLC. This promotion is responsible for solidifying the sport's postion in the history-books.
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So basically you guys are saying that the only way Franklin could possibly win is by miraculously landing some hail-mary, one in million, fluky punch.

I guess I can agree with that...I dont see it happening against an opponent who is arguably the most talented offensive and defensive striker in MMA but hey, Matt freakin Sera is wearing GSP's belt right now so I guess it's theoretically possible.

Rich is a good fighter, i've never taken that away from him. but on pure striking, Anderson is just better. He comes for a different school of striking. Franklin is like, standard boxing with some good kicks, but silva is a pure, brazillian, Muay Thai striker. that's on its own level.

Franklin's only hope is to beat Silva on the ground, which isn't the easiest of tasks, but i think that's the only option.

That's an interesting assessment, and could possibly be exactly how Franklin approaches the match, considering it merely asks him to do what he does best. Personally, I think that'd be the way I'd most like to see him win or lose, based on me liking fighters fighting towards their strengths and not to some gimpy, on the fly gameplans. Hmm, definitely something to think about.

Thanks! I agree completely that fighters that dodge their strengths in order to play it safe are putting themselves at more of a risk. I hope Rich doesn't pull a Marquardt and chicken out of the stand-up.

I've found that every opponent with the exception of Rich that Anderson's fought has backed off Anderson standing (except Leben who just plain fought like he thought he was Goku from Dragonball Z or something).

Watching Anderson/Franklin again, it's really evident that Rich is respectful of Anderson's stand-up but not frightened of it like every other guy Anderson has been in the octagon with.

I wonder how much of a psychological impact Anderson's crushing victory the first time over Rich, the dominant MW in the division had on the rest of the fighters in said division. "Oh man, Anderson did that to Rich?!" *gulp*

I really want Rich to push the pace, and not worry about standing. I believe his best chance in this is to believe in himself. If we see Franklin come to the octagon with the same look in his eyes he had the first fight, then he may be in for another thrashing.

Rich would have to take him down and keep him down. He will need to avoid subs and being sweeped, too, and pray that Silva gives him an opening. Rinse and repeat for 5 rounds. Rich would be an idiot to stand with the guy again, and I really don't see him winning this. I don't see it, at all. TKO in the second.

I wonder how much of a psychological impact Anderson's crushing victory the first time over Rich, the dominant MW in the division had on the rest of the fighters in said division. "Oh man, Anderson did that to Rich?!" *gulp*

I wonder what psychological impact it had on Rich.

You know we sit here and believe the pay per view promos, we buy into the hype but in reality these fighters know their skill level, they know their opponents and they have a fairly good idea of how their night is gong to go. You can see it in their eyes during their walk to the octagon. You could see it in Rich's eyes when he fought Silva, you could see it in Koscheck's eyes when he fought GSP, it's there almost every time there is one of these whacked out lopsided fights...everything about them says "I've never been been in the octagon with a fighter of this caliber and I'm in trouble."

I've always found Franklin's "dominant run" as MW champ to be a text book example of how to pad someones record with wins and manipulate a target audience of young american males into becoming loyal UFC fanatics.

If I were Franlin, I would probably start the fight on my knees. Would be tough to clinch from there.

Seriously, he's obviously got to avoid the clinch and he should also try and push the fight into the later rounds because Silva's cardio has never really been tested. This all of course is easier said than done.